Down in that west Texas town...

Looks like we're going to stay in El Paso for the day, and head out in the early morning tomorrow.

Originally, we were planning to fuel and feed on the outskirts of the Phoenix metro area, then run the whole 430 miles in 5-6 hours, at a non-stop 80+ mph

At high speed cruise (around 78-82mph), we get about 480 miles on a tank before the warning light comes on, at appx 50 miles DTE. (Or, about 70 additional miles doing it at 74-76 instead of 80+. ).

When it comes to long hauls, we really love having a big diesel... Really should get that extended 56 gallon underbed tank though. We wouldn't QUITE get 1000 miles out of it at 75mph... But we would at 65.

Anyway, the speed limit is 75mph for all but about 40 miles of those 430, and when the traffic is clear, you can usually run 82 or so almost the whole way (and average better than 75 no problem). I've done south/west phoenix metro to El Paso in under 6 hours a few times.

Unfortunately, high winds and blowing dust along much of the 10 (by much, we mean pretty much the entire distance between Casa Grande and Las Cruces) had us crawling along well below the limit most of the time.

It wasn't particularly dangerous or low visibility, it was just nasty crosswinds, that you don't want to be speeding in. We never got pushed across a lane even, just some bobbling, but even then, you really need to slow down and be careful.

So we spent most of the trip at -2 to -5, sometimes even -10 (when the 18 wheeler traffic was heavy).

Between that, heavy traffic in the first hour (again, from the wind and blowing dust), and stopping to actually relax and enjoy dinner in Tucson (something we never regret doing while on a long road trip), it ended up taking us 8 hours to run the 430 miles we had planned to make in 5-6.

Losing an hour back to daylight savings time land (Arizona doesn't participate in DST), we ended up not getting in until 0230L, and not settled until well after 3... at which point my body decided, as it sometimes does... that it was too tired to actually sleep right then.

Four hours later, and I'm finally running out out my second wind. Hopefully I'll manage to get some sleep soon.

That's ok though... it just means we get to enjoy the afternoon and evening with our friends... and we should still be in Tampa in time for our other friends birthday party.

Overheard in our household... Tell us how you REALLY feel...

Or rather, in our car...

So, the situation:

We're cruising I-90 near the Idaho/Washington border, heading towards route 95 (which hits the 90 at Coeur D'Alene), at plus 7.

We had been by that spot less than two hours before, and noticed a speed trap being worked by multiple Idaho State Police troopers (in their black Dodge Chargers... very cool/evil looking).

All of a sudden, a little black Acura, with smoked out (and blue tinted) headlights, taillights, turn signals, and license plate cover (and this was at twilight... so... yeah, you already know they're a douchebag); passes us at about plus 15.

Idaho troopers are almost always fine with +7, sometimes with +9; but anything +11 or more, and you're definitely going to be getting a ticket; particularly if you're an out of state driver (because they know you aren't likely to contest the ticket).

Chris: "Hmm... wonder if I should warn him about the speed trap up ahead...?" 

Mel: "Nah... he's from Washington" 

Chris: "Oh... well fuck'im then"

I should note, I have nothing against people from Washington state... some of my best friends are from, or live in, Washington.

Washington DRIVERS on the other hand...

I drive in Washington every day (my commute is almost exactly half in Idaho, half in Washington), and let me tell you; it's very apparent soon after you cross the border (basically from Liberty Lake on west), that the quality and skill of the drivers goes down, and the stupidity and homicidal/suicidal tendencies go WAY up.

Idaho drivers are frequently slow drivers (minus 10 is not uncommon); but they're MUCH more polite, more aware, and safer.

Woooo I'm drivin my life away

I actually always liked that song...

Anyway, no actual content for today, because we're driving back from Texas. I'll have a full report on the NoR conference and shoot tomorrow.